Florida is nicknamed "The Sunshine State" for good reason. The year-round sunny, warm climate holds major appeal for residents and visitors alike. Average annual temperature in the summer months is 80° and the winter average temps only drop to the 50° and 60° range. The majority of the state is coastline and boasts nearly 700 miles of public beaches so it’s easy to see why so many folks are drawn to Florida.

Florida became the 27th state in 1845. Current population is approximately 17 million with 1,000 people moving to Florida every day. Families with young children are attracted to The Sunshine State because they are able to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year. Retirees are drawn to Florida for the climate, the low cost of living, and the abundance of golf. And everyone loves Mickey Mouse and the magical world of Walt Disney. The Orlando area is the number one vacation destination in the United States and attracts tourists from all over the world.

Now that you are moving to Florida, impress your friends and family with these fascinating Florida facts:

State capital is Tallahassee.

Florida is not the southernmost state in the U.S. ­ that would be Hawaii.

There is no state income tax in Florida.

Florida has the most golf courses of any state. How many? Over 1,200.

State bird is the Mocking Bird.

The popular sports drink, Gatorade, is named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed for their football team in the 1960’s.

State reptile is the American Alligator. And yes, they can be found in the small ponds on the 1,200 golf courses in the state so be careful!

Besides tourism, other major industry is citrus fruit: oranges, lemons, and limes.

State flower is the Orange Blossom.

Hurricane season is June 1 ­ November 30.

Cape Canaveral, a strip of land on the Atlantic coast, is the site of Kennedy Space Center where American space shuttles are launched. The first rocket launch there was in 1950.

Now for extra credit points: Cape Canaveral was chosen for rocket launches to take advantage of the earth’s rotation. The centrifugal force of this rotation is greatest at the equator, and to take advantage of it, rockets are launched eastward, in the same direction of the earth’s rotation.

In 1944, Florida pharmacist, Benjamin Green invented a suntan cream in his kitchen that became "Coppertone Suntan Cream."